The unauthorised biography of “Governor” Hazmat’s dynasty

Last week, a brother I’m fond of and proud of but whose politics is gradually colonising him, found time in his ever-busy political schedule, to pack and unpack me to the overflow with the family history of the potentially next Lagos governor, Dr. Kadiri Obafemi Hamzat (now affixed with the sobriquet; KOH, by his own). He has known the family at a very personal level for decades, including the now-late patriarch, Oba Mufutau Olatunji Hamzat. He knew when the family moved home, where the father of the present Lagos deputy governor built his first family house, before the movement to the second; the patriarch’s political sojourns in Lagos; his boys’ forays into politics; the one lost to the cold hands of death; the one considered a different cut among them (a bit rough around the edges as the “biographer” couched maverick style); the one who first travelled abroad, paving the way for others, among other stories. It was an intriguing but fascinating story time. My brother could easily serve as a ghostwriter for the family, if they ever needed one.

There were moments when what was majorly a listening session for me struck and stuck. Despite not being absolutely enamoured of the entire Hamzat clan, the unauthorised “biographer” kept referring to them as a “family of service”, pointing out how the family’s ancestral migration and the decision to retain connection to a base with nostalgic affinity led to the brewing controversy about the family seemingly belonging “everywhere”. Then he told me how the deputy governor’s dad went to the Nigerian Institute of Journalism (NIJ) to pull off a certificated competence in journalism at a distinguished adult age (didn’t want to say old age). Well, that will make Kabiyesi one of us, a senior colleague if you like and an illustrious elder of the Nigerian media community, though there is no reliable evidence he was ever in the field. Well, just like in the media, it’s not every qualified lawyer that goes into litigation. A lot of U.S. congressional members have their backgrounds rooted in law but no empirical evidence of attorneyship. They read law to serve their politics. We have them in the Nigerian political ecosystem too…

My brother is a renowned banker and Kabiyesi was one in his lifetime. Hopefully, someday, I would have the opportunity of double-checking some of these stories with the deputy governor who is now at a touching distance of succeeding his boss of almost eight years, BabajideSanwo-Olu.

ALSO READ: ADC coalition: Austin Okai cautions Atiku, Peter Obi’s supporters against sabotaging alliance

My brother believes Obafemi was cut for great things even before sojourning in America. He also mentioned the deputy governor’s sibling who would appear to be deliberately groomed for the big league in governance.

But God has His path for everyone.

Following his “miraculous” emergence as governor in 2019, today’s incumbent, Sanwo-Olu, publicly confessed he was angling to be Obafemi’s (sounds like Obagoal, the Nigerian striker) chief of staff four years earlier, when Kadiri as then-Commissioner for Works in the BabatundeFashola administration went for broke against the establishment pick, now former Governor AkinwunmiAmbode, for the party’s nomination. Then KOH was roundly accused of disloyalty, indiscipline and arrogance for daring the “voice” that has been pronouncing governors into office in Lagos State since 2007. But Hamzat burnished his political resume by coming a close second to the establishment choice.

In a manner that is certainly beyond coincidence, Sanwo-Olu would go on to boss the one he wanted as boss and Ambode would return to try and retake the Alausa baton from the one who “took” it from him about eight years ago. Musical chairs or a revolving door?

In a viral video of endorsement, Lagos State House of Assembly influential but controversial Speaker, MudashiruObasa, was seen and heard saying he had just returned from Abuja (obviously meaning to confer with the president) and that nothing had changed about Hamzat’s approval for the top seat by the same decreeing “voice” who voiced him out of consideration 12 years ago. The Mudashiru open endorsement is significant in the face of his own Alausa aspiration that almost choked him out of his current number three job before his “destiny” helper stepped in again to restore to him his lost paradise.

The gerontocratic GAC, the highest advisory political body in the state, has also embraced KOH as the incoming governor with its leader, the nonagenarian TajudeenOlusi, stirring the state’s political firmament by constantly adulating Hamzat as “incoming governor” to the horror of other aspirants.

For all intents and purposes, it is safe to say the KOH moment is finally here, though it would be suicidal to take the general election for granted. But the APC ticket would be deemed safely in his back pocket and it would be a moment of intriguing reversal of history if Ambode chooses defiance over class interest and decides to enter the “arena” with Hamzat, the establishment choice this time round. Just 12 years ago, Ambode was the fave (Gen Z’s coinage for favourite), while Obafemi was the renegade. What a stunning reversal it would be if another “direct” primary, like the kind between Ambode as an unwanted incumbent and Sanwo-Olu, the preferred dragon slayer, were to pitch Ambode, now as the rebel, against Hamzat, the fave. Politics, like life, is full of twists.

Will APC win a comfortable gubernatorial election in Lagos again after the 2023 ungodly win? I doubt it, but the flairs of the potential leading candidates as well as their baggage; political, religious, ethnic and idiosyncratic, will, to an extent, determine who captures Alausa after Sanwo-Olu. There are other factors beyond the voters: security, INEC and the judiciary. These elements are supposed to have fiduciary duty to the Nigerian public and voters, but have become the Bermuda Triangle for freely given mandates. Yes, Nigeria is yet to be big on election integrity, but candidates are beginning to sweat for their mandates, especially in Lagos. In 2023, after APC lost the presidential election to Labour in the state where the ruling party’s candidate, now President Tinubu, has been the oracular Emperor since 1999, incumbent Sanwo-Olu, seeking a second mandate, literally jumped onto the street, begging for votes from pepper sellers and co. A striking image was that of the governor in blistering sun, engaging with some young ladies in an open, dirt-plagued, under-the-bridge beauty parlour. He was not only schooled, he was also scolded for bringing little to the table…

With the party’s nomination almost sealed, KOH’s path is set for him. His party is quite unpopular across Nigeria and the ruling establishment backing him is disdainfully distrusted in Lagos. While he cannot afford a daylight gap between him and the ultimate godfather, the president, he would have to let Lagos voters see him beyond the calm mien and dainty public carriage. He should and must have a message for traumatised residents of the state. He must stir hope in them, because there is currently nothing on ground to renew.

Coming from a family of service, as my brother put it, KOH has a head start. He has a name brand. His projected gentlemanly carriage is a plus, which will not mean weakness considering he has shown capacity when necessary, especially under Fashola. He is widely seen as restrained. Even unrefined ladies love his kind. I think his greatest selling point is humility. Even God is looking for his kind to bless and empower for the redemption of His people.

Except something grievous hits the ruling party, with Hamzat as its Lagos candidate, it should sail to success next year. Then KOH should promise himself to be such a worthy governor that nobody will care again where his ancestors were actually from. His journey should also be a lesson in teaching God’s timing as the best.